Like everything else in the U.S. Medicare is profit driven. And, becomes more expensive each year, for those that need it most, with the lowest income. I am a permanent resident of Costa Rica, and enrolled in their national healthcare system. My monthly fee is $40.00. Which covers dental, tests, all medical procedures and examinations, medications, doctor visits, and ambulance service. In short, everything, at a very reasonable cost!
You're wrong about Medicare being profit driven. The problem is the right-wing keeps trying to make Medicare unattractive and nonfunctional in order to benefit the insurance industry and the medical industry. We could have a national healthcare system if it wasn't for the obsession with profit and private industry by the right-wing.
Social security recipients are paid regardless of where they live. Would be nice if Medicare would just pay overseas recipients a fixed amount on a regular basis just like Social security. If the cost medical services is below the fixed amount, then recipients can keep the diff. Otherwise the recipients will be responsible for the diff. No need to process claims which greatly reduces fraud and paperworks. US usually has higher medical cost than most countries. This will allow Americans to retire wherever they want to.🙂
I have dual citizenship and will never go back. So I never enrolled in Medicare. I get good healthcare where I am. Better than I ever had in the States.
I paid into Medicare all my life. Now, at 65 and living in Thailand, they want me to pay $200/month for Medicare? I cannot afford something I can not use. If it were a real service, Medicare would cover our care when we are abroad.
You question whether Medicare is a “real service”… funny. You left the U.S., don’t consume our goods and services paying no sales tax, probably dont pay property taxes, probably don’t vote (most expats don’t)…. And you question a system that still slows you to move to Thailand and be covered by that “real service” if you come back to get treated…. And all you have to do is simply pay the $171 (new A & B amount- not $200 as you say) monthly amount all the rest of us pay. Your hypocrisy is stunning and naive, typical of all the retirees I saw while I retired and lived in Thailand. Everyone there sits in bars and bitches about America. Wake up. We’re not perfect, but better than most. You could move to one of the socialist countries and get stuff for free,if that’s your real goal.
Hi there - Since Medicare is not worldwide coverage, there is not much you can do with it unless its emergency coverage in the first 60 days of coverage.
Medicare does work overseas if you have a US residence and your "travelling" overseas. They're a few advantage insurance which cover worldwide. Kaiser, Aetna, BC/BS, Humana some companies require notice overseas hor more then 6 months, or some have no limit.
My husband had Medicare Part A and B plus a gap plan. He lives here in the US, but was on a business trip when he came down with appendicitis and had surgery in Amsterdam. We learned then, that Medicare doesn't cover you overseas. Luckily, the gap plan covered. That was his experience about 10 years ago.
"Depend on the Social Security Representative" that is a Understatement. If something is Suspicious call several times and then call Boomer Benefits. $50,000 limit on Over Sea health care, an Air Ambulance can cost that. How about a Video on Over Sea Health Insurance when Traveling?
We appreciate the feedback and the suggestion! But you're absolutely correct. We always recommend asking for a supervisor when calling a SS rep and of course, our team will be there to help if you're a client of ours!
Let's say I retire overseas and I am enrolled in Part A and Part B and have no creditable coverage. Will they cover me while I live abroad? Or, if I have coverage living in the USA but take a vacation to Europe, will they cover me?
Question: some expats live full time in another country after retirement and no longer have a residential address in the US. Do you have to maintain a US address to receive Medicare benifits while living abroad? If so are you only reimbursed after paying the bills upfront?
@@BoomerBenefitsHola! Are you saying you need to maintain a US address even if you live full time overseas to receive your benefits? Is that what you meant by SSA in your response to Johns inquiry? SSA to me is the acronym for Social Security Administration. I have read and was under the impression that no matter where you live (with the exception of Russia and the other being I believe Iran) you are illegible to receive your rightly earned monetary benefits and have also heard you can have it directly deposited into a foreign bank account without having a US address, whether you're using a PO box only as a mailing address or otherwise. Maybe you are referring to the fact that you cannot get a physical paper SS benefit check sent to a PO box? Thanks for your time and clarifications! BTW- I am aware of the fact Medicare will not cover you when living abroad but you are able go back to the US for a needed surgery or something else that may pop up as people age. I have also heard that if you enter a foreign hospital through an emergency only, that you will or can be reimbursed for their services. Muchas gracias! Desde Ensenada!
I would appreciate some clarification on this one question- Do I need to maintain a US address to continue getting my SS along Medicare A and B while living overseas with no plans on moving back. I have a US bank account that I have it directly deposited into that is one a few different US banks that allows you to maintain an account without having a US address. I don't see it happening but should I just cancel my Part be coverage and payments and just pay the penalty if for some odd reason I happen to move back? Thanks..
@@davidsebastianelli1326 My understanding is you need a US based address to receive any mail from SS etc. But you should be able to get around that by signing up for one of those online mail processing companies. Your mail is sent to their physical addresses and they scan it in. You access it online. Just dig around the web, find someone who is over 65 and posts online content retired in another country. There will be many. Just ask them how they deal with it. I don't think it is a big deal.
Hi There - The VA isn’t creditable coverage for Part A or Part B, so if you just have the VA coverage without creditable employer coverage then you would want to enroll in Part A and Part B to avoid late penalties and to have access to civilian doctors and hospitals if you ever needed them. However, the VA is creditable coverage for Part D. Here is more information on this: boomerbenefits.com/veterans-medicare-va-benefits/ czcams.com/video/Y1pCUbN5tcM/video.html
I thought Medicare does not pay for any medical expenses outside the US. I have Medicare Part A and my understanding is that it would not pay anything for a hospital stay or major medical expense here in Thailand.
Thank you for this. Question, The Netherlands makes you buy their national plan/ full coverage when you start living there, will I still have to pay for Part B?
@@BoomerBenefits I am not enrolled in part B yet because I am still working for a large company with full insurance, can I delay part B if I am fully covered by Dutch gov. plan which I am paying for every month?
@@chipsellarole267 If your insurance in the Netherlands is creditable for Medicare, then there is a chance you can delay your Medicare enrollment. However, it varies case by case. We recommend speaking with your HR department to find out if your insurance is creditable or not.
Is private insurance purchased while living abroad, say from Cigna, deemed credible coverage? Why would anyone living abroad want Medicare coverage when they can just purchase an international plan?
i'm in the usa now age 66 getting social security beneifts & enrolled in medicare A & B & advantage plan since 65. I'm planning on moving to Thailand. Do I still need to keep my Medicare A,B, advantage plans?
Hi there - that is entirely up to you! The only concern would be if you plan to come back to the US at all. If you get sick while you are here or if you move back, you would have a 10% penalty for each year you went without coverage.
Almost all the insurance companies have great plans with zero premium these days with good plans ! However Medicare is only served in US and its’ territories.
Hi there - this is something that CMS has required if you are no longer covered by creditable employer insurance and now eligible for Medicare. You can read more here - boomerbenefits.com/medicare-late-enrollment-penalty/
I am living abroad, let me know if my understanding and math are correct. When I turn 65 , I choose not to enroll in Part B. If part B will cost me 170$ an month that will save me 2040$ a year, Lets say I return to the USA at age 70, 5 years later. I will have saved 10,200$ Now my 170$ premium is 50% higher so it would be 255$ a month, 10200$ that I saved divided by the increase of 85$ a month would be 120 months. So it would take 10 years before I would notice an increase in premium?? If I died before 10 years I win. If I never came back to the USA I would save even more. Money is no issue either way I go, but I hate to pay for Part B while I am living abroad knowing I will not be able to use it..
Hi there, yes, your understanding seems to be correct! If you delay Part B and you aren't covered by creditable coverage, you will gain a 10% life-long late enrollment penalty for every 12 months you were not enrolled in Medicare but were eligible. It is also cumulative for every year that you could have had Part B but didn’t. But also please remember that the Part B premium is subject to change every year. In 2023, the standard Part B premium is $164.90 per month. But, if you are in a high-income tax bracket, you will pay more for Medicare Part B. To learn more about Medicare late enrollment penalties, check out our video titled, You Could Be Gaining a Medicare Late Penalty Without Even Knowing It!
@@BoomerBenefits Thank you, Curious, if I have bought health insurance for the country I live, is that considered creditable coverage. I am retired and not working.
What if I am 60, retired due to 100% disability and never plan to return to the USA. What penalties can I face if I never enroll in Plan B? Can I get in trouble? Can they touch my monthly check?
Hmm, that works if there is no penalty for not having a Part C - which you'd probably want if money isn't an issue. Me, I HATE dealing with medical billing.
Can you continue Paying for your Medicare Part B and Traditional Medicare Supplement Plan while living Overseas with a foreign address even though you can not use the plan? If you plan on retiring overseas for several years the goal is not to lose your right to Guaranteed Traditional Medicare Coverage due to underwriting if you return to the US.
You can live overseas and have a supplement plan, but your supplement will need to have a permanent U.S. resident address since the plan is based on where you live. You can give our team a call at 817-249-8600 and we can discuss this in more detail with you!
If you change your address to your abroad address, you get automatically cancelled after, I believe, 6 months. If you only plan to live abroad a year or two, you could cancell part b and when you come back let's say in 2 years, when you sign up again, you will be penalized 20%. If you plan to retire abroad, why would you need medicare? They won't pay for anything living abroad. Even supplemental coverage is basically a travel plan up to 60 days only.
No Part B for me. No medicare coverage in the country I am living in and private coverage here is $1000 a year for $7.5 million in patient coverage that includes everything inside the hospital and out patient is generally less than $50.00. Medicare Part B is over $150. a month and I never plan to return to the USA other than a visit. So, part B looks like throwing away money.
I'm in the same situation, and have avoided Part B as well, opting for coverage from international sources. Besides saving about $1000 annually, I also avoid the US healthcare system altogether which I have found too dysfunctional/unreliable (a trend that appears to be worsening). Same with dental coverage, except that I pay out-of-pocket and save a substantial amount of money.
Hi @joeybeans4828 - that is correct! Some Medigap & Medicare Advantage plans offer foreign travel coverage for emergencies within 60 days of travel. If you live permanently in another country, such as the Philippines, you will not have coverage.
Thanks for putting this together, a good resource to reference when trying to decide on temporarily living the expat life when newly retired.
We're always happy to help in any way we can! :)
Like everything else in the U.S. Medicare is profit driven. And, becomes more expensive each year, for those that need it most, with the lowest income. I am a permanent resident of Costa Rica, and enrolled in their national healthcare system. My monthly fee is $40.00. Which covers dental, tests, all medical procedures and examinations, medications, doctor visits, and ambulance service. In short, everything, at a very reasonable cost!
Hi puravida5683 - we are happy that hear that you are enjoying your coverage! The weather is probably a plus too :)
You're wrong about Medicare being profit driven. The problem is the right-wing keeps trying to make Medicare unattractive and nonfunctional in order to benefit the insurance industry and the medical industry. We could have a national healthcare system if it wasn't for the obsession with profit and private industry by the right-wing.
But were you exempted from enrolling in the US Medicare because you enrolled in Costa Rica? I would be in the same situation in China.
Social security recipients are paid regardless of where they live. Would be nice if Medicare would just pay overseas recipients a fixed amount on a regular basis just like Social security. If the cost medical services is below the fixed amount, then recipients can keep the diff. Otherwise the recipients will be responsible for the diff. No need to process claims which greatly reduces fraud and paperworks. US usually has higher medical cost than most countries. This will allow Americans to retire wherever they want to.🙂
That would be nice, doubt will ever happen,though.
We hear you! There are a lot of things that would be more helpful in certain situations.
This is old now???
Everything in the United States is unnecessarily overcomplicated, making it not worth the hassle.
We understand that it can be complicated - hopefully our videos make it a little easier. :)
I have dual citizenship and will never go back. So I never enrolled in Medicare. I get good healthcare where I am. Better than I ever had in the States.
We are glad to hear!
I paid into Medicare all my life. Now, at 65 and living in Thailand, they want me to pay $200/month for Medicare? I cannot afford something I can not use. If it were a real service, Medicare would cover our care when we are abroad.
You question whether Medicare is a “real service”… funny. You left the U.S., don’t consume our goods and services paying no sales tax, probably dont pay property taxes, probably don’t vote (most expats don’t)…. And you question a system that still slows you to move to Thailand and be covered by that “real service” if you come back to get treated…. And all you have to do is simply pay the $171 (new A & B amount- not $200 as you say) monthly amount all the rest of us pay. Your hypocrisy is stunning and naive, typical of all the retirees I saw while I retired and lived in Thailand. Everyone there sits in bars and bitches about America. Wake up. We’re not perfect, but better than most. You could move to one of the socialist countries and get stuff for free,if that’s your real goal.
Hi there - Since Medicare is not worldwide coverage, there is not much you can do with it unless its emergency coverage in the first 60 days of coverage.
Medicare does work overseas if you have a US residence and your "travelling" overseas. They're a few advantage insurance which cover worldwide. Kaiser, Aetna, BC/BS, Humana some companies require notice overseas hor more then 6 months, or some have no limit.
My husband had Medicare Part A and B plus a gap plan. He lives here in the US, but was on a business trip when he came down with
appendicitis and had surgery in Amsterdam. We learned then, that Medicare doesn't cover you overseas. Luckily, the gap plan covered. That
was his experience about 10 years ago.
Thanks for sharing this! We're glad to know his Medigap plan helped with the cost!
Wow, everything says I need to enroll in part A before 65, but I’ve been getting social security benefits since 62.5 years old. Thanks!
glad we could help!
Only @65
"Depend on the Social Security Representative" that is a Understatement. If something is Suspicious call several times and then call Boomer Benefits. $50,000 limit on Over Sea health care, an Air Ambulance can cost that. How about a Video on Over Sea Health Insurance when Traveling?
We appreciate the feedback and the suggestion! But you're absolutely correct. We always recommend asking for a supervisor when calling a SS rep and of course, our team will be there to help if you're a client of ours!
What does Boomer Benefits do?
great video!
Thank you, Kara!
If you live overseas Medicare is useless unless you want to hop on a plane back to the USA. If I’m wrong please tell me.
You are correct - Medicare does not give you coverage, your Medigap plan only gives emergency coverage within the first 60 days of travel.
Greetings from Manila :-) I have 7 years to go but hey... Better to learn early.
Best of luck!
Let's say I retire overseas and I am enrolled in Part A and Part B and have no creditable coverage. Will they cover me while I live abroad? Or, if I have coverage living in the USA but take a vacation to Europe, will they cover me?
We have a video that will help answer these questions! Check out our video titled, Traveling with Medicare | Here's How it Works
Question: some expats live full time in another country after retirement and no longer have a residential address in the US. Do you have to maintain a US address to receive Medicare benifits while living abroad? If so are you only reimbursed after paying the bills upfront?
Hi there - yes, in order to have medicare you will need a US based address - a PO box does not work for Medicare or SSA.
@@BoomerBenefitsHola! Are you saying you need to maintain a US address even if you live full time overseas to receive your benefits? Is that what you meant by SSA in your response to Johns inquiry? SSA to me is the acronym for Social Security Administration. I have read and was under the impression that no matter where you live (with the exception of Russia and the other being I believe Iran) you are illegible to receive your rightly earned monetary benefits and have also heard you can have it directly deposited into a foreign bank account without having a US address, whether you're using a PO box only as a mailing address or otherwise. Maybe you are referring to the fact that you cannot get a physical paper SS benefit check sent to a PO box? Thanks for your time and clarifications! BTW- I am aware of the fact Medicare will not cover you when living abroad but you are able go back to the US for a needed surgery or something else that may pop up as people age. I have also heard that if you enter a foreign hospital through an emergency only, that you will or can be reimbursed for their services. Muchas gracias! Desde Ensenada!
@@BoomerBenefits same questions as below. I believe he is correct on all points. Confirmation would be greatly appreciated 🤗
I would appreciate some clarification on this one question- Do I need to maintain a US address to continue getting my SS along Medicare A and B while living overseas with no plans on moving back. I have a US bank account that I have it directly deposited into that is one a few different US banks that allows you to maintain an account without having a US address. I don't see it happening but should I just cancel my Part be coverage and payments and just pay the penalty if for some odd reason I happen to move back? Thanks..
@@davidsebastianelli1326
My understanding is you need a US based address to receive any mail from SS etc. But you should be able to get around that by signing up for one of those online mail processing companies. Your mail is sent to their physical addresses and they scan it in. You access it online. Just dig around the web, find someone who is over 65 and posts online content retired in another country. There will be many. Just ask them how they deal with it. I don't think it is a big deal.
Is the Veterans Administration a medical coverage instead of meficare A and B. I dont want to pay for medicare if i dobt use it.
Hi There - The VA isn’t creditable coverage for Part A or Part B, so if you just have the VA coverage without creditable employer coverage then you would want to enroll in Part A and Part B to avoid late penalties and to have access to civilian doctors and hospitals if you ever needed them. However, the VA is creditable coverage for Part D.
Here is more information on this:
boomerbenefits.com/veterans-medicare-va-benefits/
czcams.com/video/Y1pCUbN5tcM/video.html
I thought Medicare does not pay for any medical expenses outside the US. I have Medicare Part A and my understanding is that it would not pay anything for a hospital stay or major medical expense here in Thailand.
That is correct - a Medigap plan or Medicare Advantage is the only way to get worldwide coverage.
Thank you for this. Question, The Netherlands makes you buy their national plan/ full coverage when you start living there, will I still have to pay for Part B?
Hi Chip, yes, you are required to pay the Part B premium whenever you're enrolled in Part B!
@@BoomerBenefits I am not enrolled in part B yet because I am still working for a large company with full insurance, can I delay part B if I am fully covered by Dutch gov. plan which I am paying for every month?
@@chipsellarole267 If your insurance in the Netherlands is creditable for Medicare, then there is a chance you can delay your Medicare enrollment. However, it varies case by case. We recommend speaking with your HR department to find out if your insurance is creditable or not.
No, he could do at a special election period when not taking from the Dutch Government.
Is private insurance purchased while living abroad, say from Cigna, deemed credible coverage? Why would anyone living abroad want Medicare coverage when they can just purchase an international plan?
i'm in the usa now age 66 getting social security beneifts & enrolled in medicare A & B & advantage plan since 65. I'm planning on moving to Thailand. Do I still need to keep my Medicare A,B, advantage plans?
Hi there - that is entirely up to you! The only concern would be if you plan to come back to the US at all. If you get sick while you are here or if you move back, you would have a 10% penalty for each year you went without coverage.
Can you keep your Medigap plan if you go overseas, just in case you decide to return? Because Medicare A & B wihtout a Medigap is not very good.
You can!
Almost all the insurance companies have great plans with zero premium these days with good plans ! However Medicare is only served in US and its’ territories.
Can you explain why there is a enrollment delay penalty?
Hi there - this is something that CMS has required if you are no longer covered by creditable employer insurance and now eligible for Medicare. You can read more here - boomerbenefits.com/medicare-late-enrollment-penalty/
What about if your spouse is working and you get insurance through their job?
If the coverage you have through a spouse is creditable coverage in the eyes of Medicare, you would be fine to continue that coverage.
We’re just slaves to our graves… Taxes and penalties.
I am told that you are reimbursed for Part B on a monthly basis ?
How does this work ?
Mine is deducting and can’t use Medicare in the current country of residence. ( even after filing CMS 1763)
Hi Robert - Could you give more information about your question?
atlatic spine center will accept medicare ?
You will want to contact the facility directly and ask if they accept Original Medicare as insurance.
Is Ecuador's IESS considered to be credible coverage?
I would like to know that also.
Hi there - that is not something we would be able to confirm. You would want to check with Social Security.
Clear as mud 😂😂😂
We understand!
I am living abroad, let me know if my understanding and math are correct. When I turn 65 , I choose not to enroll in Part B. If part B will cost me 170$ an month that will save me 2040$ a year, Lets say I return to the USA at age 70, 5 years later. I will have saved 10,200$ Now my 170$ premium is 50% higher so it would be 255$ a month, 10200$ that I saved divided by the increase of 85$ a month would be 120 months. So it would take 10 years before I would notice an increase in premium?? If I died before 10 years I win. If I never came back to the USA I would save even more. Money is no issue either way I go, but I hate to pay for Part B while I am living abroad knowing I will not be able to use it..
Hi there, yes, your understanding seems to be correct! If you delay Part B and you aren't covered by creditable coverage, you will gain a 10% life-long late enrollment penalty for every 12 months you were not enrolled in Medicare but were eligible. It is also cumulative for every year that you could have had Part B but didn’t. But also please remember that the Part B premium is subject to change every year. In 2023, the standard Part B premium is $164.90 per month. But, if you are in a high-income tax bracket, you will pay more for Medicare Part B. To learn more about Medicare late enrollment penalties, check out our video titled, You Could Be Gaining a Medicare Late Penalty Without Even Knowing It!
@@BoomerBenefits Thank you, Curious, if I have bought health insurance for the country I live, is that considered creditable coverage. I am retired and not working.
No, unfortunately insurance from another country is not creditable for Medicare.
What if I am 60, retired due to 100% disability and never plan to return to the USA. What penalties can I face if I never enroll in Plan B? Can I get in trouble? Can they touch my monthly check?
Hmm, that works if there is no penalty for not having a Part C - which you'd probably want if money isn't an issue. Me, I HATE dealing with medical billing.
They don't take Medicare in the Philippines
That is correct - Medicare only works in the US.
SSA TOLD ME THAT IT can not be used in other countries so ssa says cancel it.
That is correct - Medicare can not be used in other countries. Some Medigap or MA plans offer travel coverage for a limited timeframe
🤠😘🥰
Thanks for watching!
Can you continue Paying for your Medicare Part B and Traditional Medicare Supplement Plan while living Overseas with a foreign address even though you can not use the plan?
If you plan on retiring overseas for several years the goal is not to lose your right to Guaranteed Traditional Medicare Coverage due to underwriting if you return to the US.
You can live overseas and have a supplement plan, but your supplement will need to have a permanent U.S. resident address since the plan is based on where you live. You can give our team a call at 817-249-8600 and we can discuss this in more detail with you!
If you change your address to your abroad address, you get automatically cancelled after, I believe, 6 months. If you only plan to live abroad a year or two, you could cancell part b and when you come back let's say in 2 years, when you sign up again, you will be penalized 20%. If you plan to retire abroad, why would you need medicare? They won't pay for anything living abroad. Even supplemental coverage is basically a travel plan up to 60 days only.
No Part B for me. No medicare coverage in the country I am living in and private coverage here is $1000 a year for $7.5 million in patient coverage that includes everything inside the hospital and out patient is generally less than $50.00. Medicare Part B is over $150. a month and I never plan to return to the USA other than a visit. So, part B looks like throwing away money.
I'm in the same situation, and have avoided Part B as well, opting for coverage from international sources. Besides saving about $1000 annually, I also avoid the US healthcare system altogether which I have found too dysfunctional/unreliable (a trend that appears to be worsening). Same with dental coverage, except that I pay out-of-pocket and save a substantial amount of money.
Hi there - we have seen this situation before. If you don't plan to make any return to the US, it might be more cost effective to not have Part B.
@@BoomerBenefits Thank you for that opinion!,
Some countries will not accept Medicare. Ie Philippines.
Hi @joeybeans4828 - that is correct! Some Medigap & Medicare Advantage plans offer foreign travel coverage for emergencies within 60 days of travel. If you live permanently in another country, such as the Philippines, you will not have coverage.
It seems like medicare would save money letting other countries accept Medicare, Lord knows it's bound to be cheaper.